Is It Too Late to Leave the Chat Group?

Crack! Lightning flashed.

A powerful lightning bolt split a large tree to Chen Heng’s west in half, leaving the insides charred and glowing a fiery red.

Behind this tree stood a person draped in a black raincoat. Despite the lightning splitting the tree in half, he remained uninjured.

“Lightning Arts. Furthermore, it is one with high accuracy. It looks like you are an important person.”

Lightning Arts were a type of traditional Yan Originium Arts that controlled lightning manifestations, so it had deep ties with people in official positions and the ancient foundation of their mysteries. There were strict requirements on the user’s status and physique.

Its inheritance had slowly become a grave and solemn ceremony for the exchange of power. Besides lightning Arts being an Originium Art, it also represented one’s stance and was the customary symbol of law enforcement.

After saying so much, there was only one point to this: those who could learn a lightning Art were not the hoi polloi—they definitely held high status.

“I can’t be considered an important person; I only have a cursory understanding of lightning Arts.”

“This sir, Master Wei requests your presence.”

“Wei Yenwu, right? If he is inviting me, just do it directly. Why all the cloak-and-dagger? You even refused to show yourself.”

“...” That person had no way to respond to this.

Wei Yenwu initially sent him here to observe first. He could then decide whether to bring Chen Heng to meet Wei Yenwu.

Who knew? Chen Heng put on a show of power even before they met.

Chen Heng was not just strong but also knew lightning Arts.

“Alright, alright. I won’t make things difficult for you. Let’s go. Oh, right. Remember to get someone to bring the table and tools to my hotel. You can do that, right?”

“Sure. Please come with me. Someone will take charge of the table.”

------

“You must be Master Wei, right? I’ve long heard of your illustrious name.”

“You must be Young Master Chen. It is my fortune to meet you.”

All other things aside, the Yanese would definitely engage in polite formalities. Even with a completely unknown person, one had to pretend to be familiar, as though one had heard of that person before. This was the same, no matter which world it was.

[TL Note: Yan corresponds to China, while Lungmen corresponds to Hong Kong. Engaging in polite and formal greetings is a social norm for the Chinese.]

“I was unaware Young Master Chen would be coming and did not come to welcome you from afar. Please pardon my offense.”

“How can that be? How can that be? This is my first visit to this treasured land, yet I failed to visit Master Wei immediately. That is this junior’s failure. Master Wei is a busy man, holding authority over the entire city, yet you took time to meet this junior. Your actions spoil this junior.”

Alright, that was about right. No other nation had such a habit of making a simple “Hello!” sound so formal and polite. Only those talents who had trained for years in such ceremonies would be familiar with such greetings.

“Might I ask what Young Master Chen’s purpose is here?”

“I have two purposes here. The first is to experience the bustling scene of Lungmen, the flourishing city of commerce. The second is to find a few gullible prodigals—Ah! No. I mean wealthy sponsors—to get materials for upgrading my weapon.”

“...” Wei Yenwu was at a loss as to how to respond to Chen Heng’s candor.

“Has Young Master Chen achieved his goals yet?”

“I’ve already sort of achieved my first goal. I went touring all day and will achieve my target after a few more days. However, I’ve only accomplished half of my second target.”

“What do you mean?”

“Actually, this junior has a cursory understanding of divination, so I took the opportunity to rip off Swire, charging her 1,800,000 LMD, when I set up a stall in the park near the Lungmen Guard Department. At the same time, I took that opportunity to sell some secret medicine my clan developed for materials. However, as Swire’s only from a wealthy businessman’s family, she cannot procure certain materials. I can only continue manning my stall at the park, hoping to meet a fated person.”

“That is to say, the fated person Young Master Chen mentioned is me?”

“The benevolent see benevolence; the wise see wisdom. I wonder if Master Wei has any interest in seeing my clan’s secret medicine?”

[TL Note: “The benevolent see benevolence; the wise see wisdom” is an idiom that means there are different views, which are all acceptable.]

“I’ve heard Young Master Chen’s Chen Clan branch is famous for its mysteries; I believe the Chen Clan secret medicine is one of them. Claiming disinterest would be a lie.”

------

“I have to say, the Chen Clan’s secret medicines are strange and wondrous. Many thanks for Young Master Chen’s secret medicine.”

“There’s no need for thanks. We are just getting what we each need. Can you gather my materials within three days?”

“This…” Wei Yenwu appeared put on the spot.

Who knows how Chen Heng could tell from Wei Yenwu’s dragon face?

“I’ll add 10 percent to what we agreed upon. Take it as this junior’s show of respect.”

“There is no need to be so polite. I’ll send someone to bring those materials to your presidential suite in three days.”

“Then many thanks, Master Wei.”

“Since we have concluded the deal, let’s talk about Lungmen.” The smiling Wei Yenwu immediately turned stern. The atmosphere in the room changed, but Chen Heng remained seated, drinking tea with no change in expression.

Hmmm…this tea is pretty good.

“I just knew that elder cousin of mine could not keep the secret. She would definitely tell you, especially when it concerned Lungmen. Indeed, it is as I expected.”

“Since Young Master Chen already knows what I want to ask, can you tell me more?”

“Master Wei, it is not that this junior does not want to say more. Yan has this ancient saying, the heavenly secrets cannot be divulged. Surely, you know it, right?”

“Is there no other information?”

“There is, but I feel Master Wei will not want to hear it.” This time, it was Chen Heng’s turn to appear on the spot.

“You can say it.” Wei Yenwu waved his hand widely, gesturing for Chen Heng to go ahead and speak.

Tsk! How lacking in sincerity, trying to get something for nothing. Never mind, the materials from the earlier deal are already enough. I can’t use the excess anyway.

“In some of the future scenes I saw, I saw you ordering the massacre of the Infected in the downtown region. Censors appeared in Lungmen; among them was a woman who used lightning Arts like me.”

...Is there no other information?” Wei Yenwu did not get angry because of Chen Heng’s words. There was no need for him to get angry, as these orders conformed to his usual style.

“This junior has nothing more I can say. You probably already know the reason for the change taking place seven days later. That is Talulah’s revenge. You will know her means of revenge without my having to say anything. Even if I tell you, you cannot forestall it, so I might as well not say. In reality, Talulah’s revenge on Lungmen involves not only Talulah and the Reunion Movement but also many other things.”

“Talulah and Kashchey, right?” Wei Yenwu entered deep thought in front of Chen Heng.

[TL Note: The Deathless Black Snake, also known as Kashchey, is an antagonist of the main theme. Here is Kashchey’s profile: https://arknights.fandom.com/wiki/Deathless_Black_Snake.]

“But why did Young Master Chen suddenly join Rhodes Island? According to my intel, Young Master Chen should have participated in the matter at Chernobog, right?” Wei Yenwu thought for a while before putting the matter behind him and raising another.

“Master Wei should know Yan believes in the heavenly mandate. According to my judgment, the heavenly mandate of the entire world is gathered in Rhodes Island, so I joined Rhodes Island a few days ago.”

“Young Master Chen means that Rhodes Island will monopolize the heavenly mandate?” Wei Yenwu voiced his understanding of Chen Heng’s words after some hesitation.

“Master Wei, these words are erroneous. Master Wei should understand that the heavenly mandate can be categorized into many different kinds. I did not mean that Rhodes Island would rule over the world. Rather, I meant that Rhodes Island would get involved with matters that gather the world’s influence.”

“Does that mean Rhodes Island is very strong?”

“Its strength aside, Rhodes Island becomes a player in the world’s sphere of influence, mostly by relying on its special neutrality. No matter how strong it is, it is just a company—actually, a mercenary company for hire. However, it does have something special: Rhodes Island is very lucky.”

“Aren’t things like luck simply fantasy?”

“No, no, no. Although luck cannot be seen or touched, it does exist. Why else do you think I would join Rhodes Island? One should be friendly with factions blessed with luck, like Rhodes Island; one should avoid becoming enemies with such factions.”

“Blessed with luck? It looks like I have to contemplate cooperation with Rhodes Island.”

Wei Yenwu did not suspect Chen Heng was simply promoting Rhodes Island. In his understanding, the disciples of major clans, like Chen Heng, albeit the last member, would not promote a faction they had just joined for a few days.

Furthermore, Chen Heng possessed many mysterious secret medicines from the clan. Just these alone would give him access to many factions stronger than Rhodes Island, even government organizations; he did not need to remain with Rhodes Island.

Luck sufficiently explained why Chen Heng, who had been wandering within Yan, would suddenly appear in Rhodes Island. According to Wei Yenwu’s information, Chen Heng had no connection with Rhodes Island until a few days ago.

How to put this…this was all due to the identity the world consciousness arranged for Chen Heng.

“Then, Master Wei, take your time considering. It is getting dark; I should return to my hotel.”

“Oh, alright. Men! Send off the guest!”

After Chen Heng left, Wei Yenwu’s wife, Fumizuki, walked out from behind a screen.

[TL Note: Fumizuki is a princess from Higashi. She possesses excellent political acumen and advises Wei Yenwu on political matters. She also helped raise Ch’en and Talulah. You can read more about her in her profile: https://arknights.fandom.com/wiki/Fumizuki.]

“Fumizuki, what do you think of Chen Heng?”

“He is unfathomable. His calm and maturity far surpass those of his age. A youth his age would find it hard to remain calm and drink tea, but that did not affect him at all. This means he is wise and resourceful or is confident in settling everything with force. Perhaps it is both.”

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